ROTJ News: He Ain't Your Father's Joker 
The Mad Hatter 
Thu Jul 27 10:02:26 2000 

Here's some interesting news about the Joker, straight from the man who voices him... Courtesy of the Comics Continuum. 

Hatter 

Mark Hamill returns as the voice of the Joker in October's straight-to-video movie, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, but the character won't be quite the same. 

"We're playing him darker this time," producer Bruce Timm said. "One thing that threw Mark initially the first day is that we said that we don't want him to be quite as manic as he was. 

"He's a different kind of Joker. The initial design theory was that he was Hannibal Lecter, although he doesn't eat people. Mark said, 'Well that's interesting.' He still has the maniacal laugh and things, but he's much more scarier." 


"It was different this time with fitting into another cast. Also, the Joker is a different Joker," Hamill said. 

"I couldn't slip on the old glove. I had to look at it as a whole different animal." 

The movie, which will be released on video and DVD, has been moved up a week to an Oct. 24 release. 

Hamill called getting the chance to play the Joker again "an unexpected pleasure." 

"I have to tell you the quality of the script is so high, I really relished the role," he said. "I never expected to find a character as rich as this one in animation. So I consider myself very, very fortunate. 

"In fact, I had moved on. I mean, Batman Beyond was a great success, so they decided to stop doing what they called the 'Coke Classic.' I saw Paul Dini at Golden Apple (a Los Angeles comics store). I've had some experience at franchises that move on with out you -- and I think you know I'm referring to Wing Commander. I said, 'Paul, what's the matter? You haven't seen Futurama? The Joker can't come back as a head in a jar?' He said, 'Be careful what you wish for.' 

"They asked me to do the movie, and I said I'll do it if Joker can come back." 

Ratings - Kids' WB! Falls to Fox Kids
Rembrandt
Thu, 27 Jul 2000 18:07:33 EDT

From Zap2it.com:

Saturday, July 22, Fox Kids Network (Fox Kids) ranked No. 1 among all
broadcast competition posting a 3.0 rating/15 share with Kids 2-11, topping
Kids WB by 25 percent (3.0 vs. 2.4) and ABC by 67 percent (3.0 vs. 1.8).
(Editor's Note: ABC aired the British Open from 10:00 AM - Noon)

"Digimon: Digital Monsters" (10:30 AM/ET) was the No. 1 series among all
broadcast competition for Saturday morning with Kids 2-11 posting a 4.0 rating/17 share. "Digimon: Digital Monsters" also ranked No. 1 among broadcast time period competition with Kids 2-11 (4.0 rating/17 share) and Kids 6-11 (3.8 rating/17 share), besting Kids WB's "Wild Card" by 29 percent with Kids 2-11 (4.0 vs. 3.1) and 19 percent with Kids 6-11 (3.8 vs. 3.2).

"Flint The Time Detective" (9:30 AM/ET) was the No. 1 series in its time
period among broadcast competition with both Kids 2-11 (3.7 rating/ 17 share) and Kids 6-11 (3.7 rating/ 18 share), topping Kids WB's "Cardcaptors" by 37 percent (3.7 vs. 2.7) with Kids 2-11 and by 12 percent (3.7 vs. 3.3) among Kids 6-11. The series also bested ABC's "One Saturday Morning" by 68 percent (3.7 vs. 2.2) with Kids 2-11 and by 48 percent (3.7 vs. 2.5) among Kids 6-11.

"Angela Anaconda" (11:00 AM/ET) also topped its time period broadcast
competition with Kids 2-11 (2.9 rating/ 14 share) and Kids 6-11 (2.7 rating/13 share), besting Kids WB's "Men In Black" by 12 percent (2.9 vs. 2.6) with Kids 2-11.

Kids Weekday Ratings
Rembrandt
Thu, 27 Jul 2000 18:09:31 EDT

From Zap2it.com:

For the week of July 17, Fox Kids Network (Fox Kids) ranked No. 1 among broadcast competition with both Kids 2-11 (1.8/9) and Kids 6-11 (2.1/10), besting Kids WB by 38 percent (1.8 vs. 1.3) and 62 percent (2.1 vs. 1.3) respectively. Fox Kids also ranked No. 1 among broadcast competition with Boys 2-11 (2.4/12) and Boys 6-11 (2.7/14), besting Kids WB 60 percent with Boys 2-11 (2.4 vs. 1.5) and 93 percent with Boys 6-11 (2.7 vs. 1.4). This is the sixteenth consecutive week that Fox Kids has bested Kids WB with Boys 2-11 and the tenth consecutive week with Boys 6-11.

Fox Kids new "Anime Invasion" block (Friday, 3-5PM/ET) invaded broadcast television, ranking No. 1 among all broadcast competition with Kids 6-11 (1.9/10) besting Kids WB. Fox Kids also ranked No. 1 among broadcast competition with Boys 2-11 (2.0/11) and Boys 6-11 (2.7/15), besting Kids WB by 50 percent with Kids 6-11 (2.7 vs. 1.8).

Additional Fox Kids daytime program highlights for the week of July 17 include:

"Digimon: Digital Monsters" (4:30 PM/ET) (Mon-Fri)

* Ranked No. 1 in its time period among broadcast competition with Kids 2-11 (2.0/10) and Kids 6-11 (2.4/11), besting Kids WB's "Batman/Superman 2" by 67 percent (2.0 vs. 1.2) and 140 percent (2.4 vs. 1.0), respectively

* Ranked No. 1 in its time period among broadcast competition with Boys 2-11 (2.7/13) and Boys 6-11 (3.4/16), besting Kids WB's "Batman/Superman 2" by 80 percent (2.7 vs. 1.5) and 183 percent (3.4 vs. 1.2) respectively.

* "Digimon" (Friday) topped Kids WB's "Batman Beyond" by 26 percent in rating with Boys 2-11 (2.4 vs. 1.9) and 162 percent with Boys 6-11 (3.4 vs. 1.3).

"X-Men" (Mon. - Thurs.) / "Flint the Time Detective" (Fri) (3:30PM/ET)

* Ranked No. 1 in its time period among broadcast competition with Kids 2-11 (1.9/10) and Kids 6-11 (2.1/10), besting Kids WB's "Batman/Superman" by 138 percent with Kids 2-11 (1.9 vs. 0.8) and 133 percent with Kids 6-11 (2.1 vs. 0.9).

* Ranked No. 1 in its time period among broadcast competition with Boys 2-11 (2.6/14) and Boys 6-11 (2.8/15), besting Kids WB's "Batman/Superman" by 136 percent (2.6 vs. 1.1) with Boys 2-11 and 180 percent with Boys 6-11 (2.8 vs. 1.0).

* "Flint The Time Detective" (Friday) topped Kids WB's "Men In Black" with all key demos, Kids 2-11 (1.9 vs. 0.9), Kids 6-11 (2.1 vs. 1.2), Boys 2-11 (2.5 vs. 1.2) and Boys 6-11 (3.1 vs. 1.3).

"Scholastic's the Magic School Bus" (Mon-Thurs.) / "Digimon" (Fri)(3:00 PM/ET)

* Ranked No. 1 in its time period among broadcast competition with Kids 2-11 (1.9/10) and Kids 6-11 (1.9/11) topping Kids WB's "Toons" by 138 percent with both Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11 (1.9 vs. 0.8).

* "Digimon" (Friday) topped Kids WB's "Pokemon" for the third consecutive week with Kids 2-11 (1.5 vs. 1.2), Boys 2-11 (1.5 vs. 1.3) and Boys 6-11 (1.8 vs. 1.6).

ROTJ Contest Page
Harl
Wed Jul 26 15:38:22 2000

Hey, all!

Just wanted to let you know that World's Finest is going to be running a contest starting in late September/Early October.

Currently, the page is bare bones, but more will be added on as the contest nears. At the moment there is some info on the contest, the prizes, and a snazzy logo. 

If you have any thoughts, ideas for the contest or prizes, or would like to co-sponsor the contest then please e-mail Dick Grayson.

Return of the Joker Contest

Wakko's Wish? ...To air again on Cartoon Network!
Cutie
Wed, 26 Jul 2000 00:40:39 EDT

Quick News Byte:

The Animaniacs movie, Wakko's Wish is airing on Cartoon Network this Saturday at 7pm.  If you haven't seen it before, see it. If you've seen it before, watch it again!